Video review: BMW M850i
Silky steering. Powerful and practical. The most enticing BMW for years.
Sleek and narrow headlights, athletic contours and a new double-bubble roofline give the new BMW 8 Series a rare presence that is both utterly luxurious and remarkably sporty. But to really impress you’ll need the M850i. We sent Howard Ritchie to have a quick go and give his first impressions and… we think he now wants to lease one.
The potent 530hp 4.4-litre M850i V8 is the top-of-the-range choice. It produces 530hp and 750 Nm of torque which is enough for a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds. Economy isn’t too bad considering the power it offers either, with 28.5mpg attainable.
To match its blistering performance, the BMW M850i xDrive also has head-turning M Performance details. These include the exclusive 20in alloy wheels, kidney grille, M side gills and wing mirrors, which all come in sophisticated Cerium Grey, as well as the new high performance tyres.
On the inside, you’ll find BMW’s new generation of iDrive system. With a 10.25in display on the dash, the infotainment will still be controlled by the iDrive controller on the centre console, but crucially you can also use touch, voice or gesture control to operate it too.
Standard features include adaptive suspension, automatic emergency braking, wireless charging and heated front seats. Of course, BMW’s never-ending list of options can be specified: a panoramic sunroof, active cruise control and Laserlight headlights are all on offer.
